MIS Manager Job Description

“MIS” stands for Management Information Systems, so MIS Managers are responsible for managing the information systems of their employer. They are involved with any task related to installing, upgrading or repairing these information systems. Their primary concern is with keeping their employer’s information and data safe and secure.

The role of MIS Manager is a management position. Employers typically look for candidates who have at least 5 years of IT experience. MIS Managers typically work in an office setting. They can either work in-house as part of a company’s IT department, or they can work for an IT consultancy firm. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the demand for MIS Managers is set to increase 15 percent through 2024.

MIS Manager Duties and Responsibilities

MIS Managers are responsible for installing, upgrading and troubleshooting the information systems of their employers. The most common duties necessary for completing this responsibility are listed below.

Develop and Maintain Organization Network and Databases

MIS Managers are responsible for creating and managing the various databases used by their employer, which requires proficiency with database management software. They are also responsible for maintaining network connectivity for the various machines used within the organization.

Ensure Stable Operation of Organization’s Network and Databases

MIS Managers are in charge of developing and implementing the first line of defense against critical malfunctions. They do this through creating consistent schedules for updates and functionality tests, and then implementing these schedules through their team.

Implement Software and Security Updates

Data security is one of the primary concerns of MIS Managers. Not only does this involve protecting proprietary data, but also the data of the organization’s customers or clients. This is why implementing regular software, security and operating system updates are so important.

Troubleshoot and Fix IT Issues

Even the best preventative plans cannot avert every critical issue. When these issues happen, it is the MIS Manager who is responsible for diagnosing the root cause of this issue, and then formulating a repair strategy.

Manage IT Staff

Managing IT staff is a task that blends with all of the other responsibilities of MIS Managers. They are responsible for delegating tasks in a way that doesn’t sacrifice efficiency. This requires knowledge of each team member’s strengths and weaknesses.

MIS Manager Skills

MIS Managers predominantly rely on their technical skill set to complete their duties. With that being said, any kind of manager needs soft skills to manage a team of employees. IT professionals aren’t typically thought of as great communicators, but MIS Managers rely on their communication skills to build healthy working relationships with their team members. They also have to be a leader who “ gets their hands dirty ” by working alongside their team when major IT issues arise.

The following skills are the core skills MIS Managers use most in completing their daily duties.

Critical Thinking Skills: MIS Managers call upon their critical thinking skills when troubleshooting issues with software, hardware, networks and databases. They also use their critical thinking skills when formulating update schedules.

Systems Analysis Skills: MIS Managers use their systems analysis skills to understand how the parts of a given information system affects the functionality of the whole. This is necessary to create successful fixes for critical IT issues.

Complex Problem Solving Skills: Not every IT problem is a routine fix. MIS Managers call upon their complex problem solving skills to work through issues by which they are stumped.

Management Skills: MIS Managers use their management skills in everything they do. This involves knowing which tasks to delegate, and to whom they should be delegated. It also involves diffusing inter-employee conflict and addressing employee performance issues in a way that inspires improvement.

Communication Skills: In order for MIS Managers to be effective Managers, they have to have good communication skills. They must be able to build relationships with employees in order to keep them inspired and productive.

MIS Manager Salary

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the national median salary for MIS Managers is $131,600. Those in the bottom 10 percent make below $80,200, while those in the top 10 percent make above $187,200. The three states with the highest median salaries for MIS Managers are California at $153,800, New York at $152,300 and Virginia at $151,900.

MIS Manager Educational Requirements

Given that MIS Managers typically have a six-figure salary, the educational requirements for this position are fairly extensive. Most employers seek candidates who have their Masters in Business Administration (MBA) with a concentration in Information Technology. Other desirable Master’s degrees include Computer Science and Information Systems Management. The ideal candidates would have studied Information Technology or Computer Science at the Bachelor’s level.

MIS Manager Resources

If you’re interested in the career path of MIS Manager, check out our list of resources below.

Association for Information Systems – The AIS is an organization for those who study or work in the field of Information Systems. It has over 4,000 members and provides members with regularly updated industry news, as well as in-person conferences.

Information-Management.com – This is a collaborative blog open to any Information Management professionals. It is a great place to network and stay on top of industry trends.

UA Management Information Systems – Although this blog hasn’t been updated since 2015, the concept makes it worth a look. Each post is written by someone who has gone through the MIS program at the University of Alabama. It is a great source for getting an inside look at the educational path to become a MIS Manager.

ComputerWeekly.com – Computer Weekly is a blog that covers everything related to computers. They have a dedicated section for Information Technology, which is the most relevant to MIS Managers.

BiztechMagazine.com – This is a blog that covers information technology as it relates to the world of business. This is a great resource for MIS Managers of all experience levels.

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